Growth encourages club's board to pursue expansionBy JENNY NEYMANPeninsula Clarion The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula will face a change Oct. 1, when Suzanne Little vacates the position of executive director.

The organization is in the process of hiring a replacement. Applications for the position will be accepted until Oct. 1.

In the six years Little has served as executive director, the organization has grown tremendously.

"Our program is now peninsulawide and serves through our club programs, After the Bell program and sports programs," said Mike Navarre, president of the Boys and Girls Club board of directors.

Even with a change in leadership, Navarre expects the club to continue to grow. The organization is working toward opening more sites on the peninsula and creating an endowment fund. Navarre said the endowment fund would be fed by people donating assets or leaving the organization money in their wills. The endowment would be used to fund the organization's programs on a long-term basis.

The next big project for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula is a capital campaign for a new facility in Soldotna, Navarre said. Right now there are five programs operating at schools in Soldotna. A new facility could house those programs and be a focal point of the organization for the community of Soldotna.

"We've been expanding and growing," Navarre said. "Mostly we've just been trying to meet the needs here on the peninsula. I think we're doing a great job and a lot of credit for that goes to Suzanne.

"I think the club is headed in a very positive direction. We at the club -- the staff, the board, the kids we serve -- and the community are going to miss Suzanne and her husband."